The Strand

The Strand is a major thoroughfare in Westminster, London, running over 3/4 of a mile from Trafalgar Square to Fleet Street in Central London. As it historically ran along the north bank of the River Thames, it was given the name "the Strand", coming from the Old English word strond, meaning the edge of a river. Between the 12th and 17th centuries, the upper class lived along the Strand, but the aristocracy moved to the West End during the 17th century, after which the Strand became known for its coffeeshops, restaurants, and taverns.